Indian pastor murderer denies anti-Christian motive behind killing

Contrary to the widespread Christian persecution suffered at the hands of Hindu nationalists, the killing of Rev. Abraham Biswas Surin in northeastern India on May 5 is not because of his Christian faith, said the Hindu man who confessed to be the murderer.

"So far, we do not see any angle of persecution to the incident here related to either the pastor's religious or tribal identity," a Christian leader who spoke in anonymity told The Morning Star News. "It seems to be more of a personal issue."

Mohammad Hussain claimed that he killed the pastor because Surin kept pestering him to pay back the sum of $164. He was arrested by the police two weeks after the 64-year-old pastor's body was found on May 6 in a drainage area under a railway bridge in Rourkela. His throat was slashed and had injury marks on other parts of the body. A bloodstained weapon was also found nearby.

Authorities reported that the pastor's ring, mobile phone, and wallet were not stolen.

A footage captured by CCTV cameras showed Surin in his last hours walking alongside a "tall man" as they got off from a train at Rourkela railway station at around 10 p.m. May 5. Authorities identified the tall man as Hussain.

However, the anonymous Christian leader is not fully convinced with the explanation.

"He withdrew $745 on the day he was killed. Police have not yet revealed whether the money has been recovered or not," he revealed.

He also pointed to the telephone records that showed Hussain calling Surin 40 times in the previous month.

"If the pastor was the one pestering him for money, why would this man call him?" asked the Christian leader.

Surin was the pastor of Gossner Evangelical Lutheran Church and manager of the German Kindernothilfe (KNH) hostels that supported impoverished children with education, boarding and lodging.